Pocket-compass.



No. 709,046. Patented Sept. l6, I902.

C. C. BUEGER.

POCKET COMPASS.

(Application filed July 16, 1901.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-8heet I.

T norms Pnzns :0. won;

No. 709,046. Patented Sept. l6, I902.

C. C. RUEGEH. POCKET COMPASS.

(Application filed July 18, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

BY 2 I WWAtir/rfieya Lin-40,, WASHINGYON u c UNITED STAT-ES PATENTOFFICE.

CHARLES C. RUEGER, OF'BUTTE, MONTANA.

-POCKET-COMPASS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,046, datedSeptember 16, 1902.

Application filed July 16. 1901. Serial No. 68,505. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. RUEGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Butte, in the county of Silverbow and State of Montana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket-Com passes; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate oneform in which 1 have contemplated embodying my invention, and the saidinvention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of myimproved compass drawn to a larger scale than the actual size, thefolding diopters being removed. Fig.1 represents a central sectionthrough the level attached to the instrument. Fig. 1 rep resents an endview of the level, showing in detail the attaching; -sorew and eccentricsleeve. Fig. 2 represents a central vertical section through theinstrument, showing the diopters in place and folded down upon the topof the instrument. Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation of the instrument,showing the arrangement of the indicating-marks on its exterior. Fig. 4is a partial sectional view of the clinometer-disk, showing thegraduations thereon. Fig. 5 represents a sectional view of one side ofthe com pass-casing and levelring, showing a method of attaching theparts together. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the two diopters. Fig.8 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the devices for attachingthe level to its ring and for adjusting it.

The object of my invention is to provide a pocket instrument of moderatesize which will permit with the greatest convenience and sufficientaccuracy those angular measurements which the practical mining engineeris most frequently required to make, and the device is adapted for useunder ground as Well as upon the surface.

In the drawings, A represents the compasscasing, which is provided witha flush glass cover B, having its edges beveled, as indi cated in thedrawings, Fig. 2, and secured in place by means of a frictionretaining-ring 1), adapted to fit snugly within the upper part of thecasing and flush therewithand having its inner face or periphery beveledto overhang the beveled edge of the glass cover, and thus retain it inposition. This construction provides the compass with a flush uppersurface having no projecting parts to obstruct the view and which isreadily kept clean. In the use of these instruments under groundparticularly dirt, water, grease from candles, and other foreign matterfrequently drop upon the glass cover, and it is at once apparent howmuch the flush top facilitates the quick removal of such substances aswell as the general cleanliness of the instrument. .It is also highlyimportant to prevent so far as possible corrosive waters from gettinginto the interior of the compass-casing, and the flush top is distinctlyadvantageous in preventing this. Moreover, as the ring I) is held inplace by friction only the glass cover may be quickly and easily removedwithout the use of tools for the purpose ofcleaning the interior of thecompass-casing should any corrosive material find an entrance to theinterior or whenever it is desirable to obtain access to the interiorfor any purpose-as, for example, to make a change in the style ofdivision-numbering,as hereinafterexplained. The bottom of thecompass-casingis provided with a threaded aperture 1), which is engagedby an adjusting-screw 0, having a milled head a, forming a shoulder toprevent overwinding of the screw. 'lhisscrew c is provided with athreaded central aperture, inwhich is located the threaded portions ofthe center pin d, which is provided with a milled head d and a shoulderd adapted to engage the screw 0 to prevent over-winding of the centerpin. Within the com pass-casingis a revolu ble plate or disk 0, which Iterm for convenience of reference the clinometer-disk. This disk has acentral bearing engaging the center pin d and resting upon the screw 0,and said disk is also provided with a peripheral vertical flange c,terminating at its upper edge in a horizontal outwardly-projectingflange 0 The disk 0 is also provided at one point near its peripherywith a weight 0 for use when the device is used in clinometer work. Theweight a is attached to the disk 0 by means of ascrew c passingeccentrically through said weight. By loosening the screw and moving theweight slightly to one side or the other a very delior more styles ofnumbering, which may he made in different colors, if desired. Thedivisions on the vertical flange avoid errors of parallax in reading theneedle, and the divisions on the flange of the disk facilitate theadjustment of the disk with respect to the quadrant-marks on the compass-casing and also the clinometer-readings on the disk. By means ofthe screw 0 the disk C may be held from rotation by forcing it upwarduntil the flange c is pressed into engagement with the glass cover B, orsaid disk may be released, so as to revolve upon the center pin, as willbe readily understood from the drawings. It will be understood that thegraduation or division numberings shown in Fig. 1 are incomplete, aswill-be evident to those familiar with such instrument, different stylesof numbering being illustrated on portions of the disk to avoidconfusion.

D represents the magnetic needle, which is provided with an agate seat01 engaging the center pin, the arms of the needle on each side of thecenter pin being curved, as shown in Fig. 2. By turning the center pin(Z the needle may be allowed to swing freely or may be pressed upwardagainst the glass cover B to hold it from movement. By making the needlecurved, as shown, with the curved portions extend ng slightly above theseat it will be seen that when the needle is raised the curved arms willengage the glass cover with a slight spring-pressure before the seat israised into contact with the glass, and the shoulder d will prevent theseat from being brought into contact with the glass cover, thusprotecting the point of the center pin. By making the disk 0, whichcarries the gradnations, revoluble within the compass-casing it will beseen that the disk can be adusted to set off the magnetic variations, soas to allow needle-readings to be taken from the true meridian, and byprovidingthe disk with the weight 0 it can also be used as a clinometer.By the mechanism above described both the needle and the clinometer-diskcan be arrested without perceptible change of position, so as topreserve their readings, thus allowing readings to be taken from thearrested parts where it is difficult to obtain them at the time ofmaking the observation or allowing readings taken at the time ofobservation to be checked by readings taken from the arrested parts. Thedisk 0 has a further advantage in that it. permits a variety of circledivision-numherings being used without interfering with the principaldivision-lines, which are engraved or marked in any suitable manner uponthe inner face and top of the flanges c and 0 respectively, preferablyat intervals of five degrees. This result may be simply and cheaplysecured by pasting or otherwise securing to the face of the disk anauxiliary disk of paper or other suitable material on which is markedthe style of division-numbering which suits the particular useroftheinstrnment. Asthepossiblestyles of division-numbering are limited innumber, the manufacturer of the instrument can readily and cheaplysupply a set of auxiliary disks, which will enable the owner of theinstrument to use one or other of them at his pleasure.

To the rim of the compass-casing are pivoted on opposite sides thefolding diopters E and F, each of which is provided atits upper end witha hook e and f, respectively, by means of which the compass may be hungupon a string or wire stretched between survey-stations after the mannerof the German miners compass. Each of the diopters is provided at itslower end with bifurcated portions 6 and f, respectively, which permitof an unobstructed view between them. The diopter E is provided with amirror 6 having a central vertical sight-line engraved or otherwiseaffixed thereon. The upper part of the diopter F consists of a verticalstandard f which can be used as asight when desired. The diopters E andF may be folded down upon the top of the compass, as shown in Fig. 2,and they may also be swung over laterally and their points allowed totouch a table or other support when the apparatus is used upon a drawingboard or table for the purpose of determining angles, as hereinafterdescribed. The top of the compass-casing is preferably provided with apair of detachable plates a (1, provided with perforated ears a a toreceive the pivoted diopters, and said plates are detachably secured tothe compasscasing by screws (1 (1 so that these plates and the dioptersmay be removed from the compass-casing, if desired.

The exterior of the compass-casing is provided with an annular revolublering G, (see Fig. 2,) to which is secured adjustably a level orbubble-tube g. (See Fig. 1.) I prefer to attach the tube g adjustably tothe ring G by the following mechanism: The ring G is provided centrallywith a pin g, which engages an aperture in the tube g, said aperturebeing made a little widerat its mouth than the pin g in the plane of thering G. At each end the tube g is provided with a yoke adapted toreceive an eccentric sleeve g between its bifurcated portions, saidsleeve being held in place by an adjusting-screw g passing through theeccentric sleeve and having its head engaging the upper face of theyoke. Each of the sleeves is provided with'an aperture 9 in its side topermit the insertion of a tool for rotating the sleeve to adjust thetube 9 in a direction perpendicular to the face of the compass, and byloosening one of the adjustingscrews g and tightening the other the tubeg may be adjusted in the plane of the face of the compass. Theprojecting pheripheral portions of the ring G are preferably milled tofacilitate the turning of the ring around thecompass-casing, and theexterior of said ring is provided with four quadrant-marks, (see i, Fig.3,) the milled surface being cut away to allow these marks to be plainlyseen. These quadrant-marks can be brought into alinement with similarquadrant-marks on the top face of the compass-casing, which are alsocarried down onto the outer peripheral edge of the casing. Thisleveling-ring may be used for the purpose of leveling the face of thecompass and may be also utilized when the device is used as aclinometer. The quadrant-points on thering G give readings on the circledivision-line cut into the outside periphery of the compass-casing. Forconvenience in using the instrument in clinometer work and for otherpurposes another sight-line is provided, which consists of a heavy lineb, which is engraved in the glass cover and blackened or otherwisetreated to render it distinct. This line b is coincident with thesight-line of the diopters and in case.the diopters are removed willform the guiding line of sight for the determination of horizontal andvertical angles.

In order to illuminate the compass when it is used for undergroundpurposes, I provide a gasolene-torch H, revolubly secured to the bottomof the compass and provided with a wick-tube H and a closing device HThe interior of the body of the torch and the wick-tube are preferablyfilled with wicking which is saturated with gasolene or other suitablefluid, so that by lighting the portion of the wick projecting from thewick-tube which extends up slightly above the plane of the top of thecompass the compass will be illuminated. The main body of the torch,which is of circular shape, is preferably provided with three or moresupporting lugs or feet h, which will support the instrument when it isplaced upon a table, when it will be seen that the compass-body may berotated upon the torch. This construction is convenient when it isdesired to use the instrument inv platting surveys, in which case thecompass-casing can be turned easily and accurately into the desiredposition for the needle and the folding diopters may be swung over anddownward until their points rest upon the paper. Byindicating thesepoints In the construction shown in Fig. :2 it will be observed that theannular body of the torch H extends outward beyond the bottom of thering G, so as to prevent the latter from being disengaged from thecompass-casing. I may, however, provide the compass-casing with anannular groove (see Fig.5 and provide the ring G with four screws gprojecting into said groove, in order to attach the ring to thecompass-casing while permitting it to revolve thereon. In such case itwill be obvious that the torchH could be removed from the instrument, ifdesired. In order to provide for the easy removal of the torch, Iprovide the annular body of the torch with a central circular aperturewhich engages an annular hub or boss a on the bottom of thecompass-casing, said hub or boss being provided with a retaining-ring6L5, secured thereto by means of screws 0., said retaining-ring engagingportions of the torchbody surrounding said hub and holding it in place.To remove the torch, it is only necessary to unscrew the screws a andremove the retaining-ring at.

The manifold uses to which the instrument may be put need not beparticularly described herein, as they will be readily understood bythose skilled in the art to which this invention appertains. I will,however, indicate two ways in which the instrument maybe used inclinometer work. According to the first the instrument is held in avertical position. The sightline of the instrument, which is given bythe line on the glass cover or the diopters, is alined with the eye andthe next station-point. Thering G is then rotated about the compass-casing so as to bring the bubble-tube g to the top, and the ring isthen carefully adjusted to bring the bubble in the center of the tube,(indicated bya mark on the glass,) at the same time retaining thealinement with the eye. The index-points on ring G will then be read onthe graduations on the exterior of the casing to give the angles ofdeparture of the sight-line from the vertical and horizontal. The ringGr will be held by friction from movement on the casing unless it iscarelessly handled or moved purposely. It is sometimes desirable to takeobservations while facing the instrument, in which'case it is held withthe glass cover facing the observer and the sight-line on the cover ismade to coincide with the line the inclination of which is to bedetermined. Ring G is then revolved on the casing and the bubblecentered in the bubble-tube, and readings are taken, as beforedescribed. A more rapid though less sensitive clinometerreading can betaken from the disk 0. The alinement of the sight-line is effected asbefore described. The disk 0 is releasedand the weight will seek thepoint directly below the center of the disk, swinging the disk intoposition, so that the observer may take readings therefrom. In order toenable the observer to keep his eye at the sight-line, it is preferableto arrest the disk when it has adjusted itself and take readings fromthe ar rested disk.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. The combination with a compass-casing, of a graduated disk revolublymounted upon a central spindle within said casing, the casing inclosingsaid disk at the bottom and sides but being open at the top whereby theentire upper face of said disk is exposed to View, a magnetic needlerevolubly mounted above and independently of said disk, and adapted toread over the entire upper face of the disk at all times, and arrestingdevices for said disk, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a compass-casing, of a graduated disk revolublymounted upon a central spindle Within said casing, the easing inclosingsaid disk at the bottom and sides but being open at the top, whereby theentire upper face of said disk is exposed to view, a magnetic needlerevolubly mounted above and independently of said disk, and adapted toread over the entire upper face of the disk at all times, arrestingdevices for said disk and independent arresting devices for said needle,substantially as described.

3. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of a pivotally-mounteddisk within said casing, provided with portions adapted to engage thetop of the casing to arrest said disk, an adjusting-screw for raisingsaid disk to bring said portions into engagement with the top of thecasing, a center pin having a threaded portion passing through saidadjusting-screw, and a needle mounted on said center pin above said diskwhereby said center pin may be adjusted to raise the needle into contactwith the top of the casing, substantially as described.

l. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of a pivotally-mounteddisk within the casing provided with a vertically-disposed flangeterminating at its upper end in a horizontal flange, and provided with ascale of divisions on the disk proper, the inner face of said verticalflange and the upperface of said horizontal flange, a needle mounted insaid casing and adapted to rotate independently of said disk andindependent devices for arresting the disk and needle, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of a pivotally-mounteddisk within the casing provided with a vertically-disposed flangeterminating at its upper end in a horizontal flange, and provided with ascale of divisions on the disk proper, the inner face of said verticalflange and the upper face of said horizontal flange, a needle mounted insaid casing and adapted to rotate independently of said disk andindependent devices for arresting the disk and needle, and a weightsecured to said disk eccentrically thereof, the compass-casing beingalso provided with division-markings, substantially as described.

6. In a compass, the combination with the compass-casing, provided withsighting devices, of a revoluble disk pivoted centrally within saidcasing, a weight secured to said disk eccentrically thereof, and anadjustable securing device passing eccentrically through said weight,whereby said weight may be adjusted with respect to said disk,substantially as described.

7. In a pocket-compass, the combination with the compass-casing providedwith sighting devices, of a revoluble disk mounted in said casing, aneedle mounted in said casing and adapted to rotate independently ofsaid disk, independent arresting devices for said disk and needle, and aweight secured to said disk adjacent to its periphery, constructed tocause that portion of said disk to swing beneat-h its center, when thecasing is held in a vertical position, whereby the device may be used asa clinometer and the disk arrested for reading, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a compass, the combination with the circular casing, of a needlemounted in said casing, a ring revolubly mounted on the exterior of saidcasing, and a level secured to said ring, substantially as described.

9. In a compass, the combination with the casing provided with sightingdevices, of a ring revolubly mounted on said casing, a level secured tosaid ring, devices for adjusting said level in the plane of said ringand independent devices for adjusting said level perpendicularly to theplane of the ring, substantially as described.

10. In a compass, the combination with the casing provided with sightingdevices, of a ring revolubly mounted on the casing, a level providedwith bifurcated portions at each end, sleeves engaging said bifurcatedportions of the level and provided with eccentric apertures therethroughand adj usting-screws passing through said sleeves threaded into saidring and having portions engaging the bifurcated portions of said level,whereby said level can be adjusted in the plane of the ring and alsoperpendicularly to the plane of the ring, substantially as described.

11. In a compass, the combination with the casing provided with sightingmeans and with an annular scale of divisions and a needle mounted insaid casing, of a ring mounted revolubly on said casing and providedwith index-marks, adapted to register with the divisions of said scaleon the casing, and a bubble-tube or level secured to said ring,substantially as described.

12. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of a ring revolublymounted thereon, a level or bubble-tube secured to said ring and a torchpivotally secured to said casing IIO and having a wick-tube extending tothe top of the casing, whereby said bubbletnbe may be rotated about thecasing and said bubbletube and the compass illuminated at any point,substantially as described.

13. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of a rotary diskmounted in said casing, a needle mounted in said casing and adapted torotate independently of said disk, independent arresting devices forsaid disk and needle, folding diopters hinged to said casing andprovided at their lower ends with bifurcated portions and at their upperends with hook portions terminating in indicatingpoints, each of saiddiopters being provided with a sight-line, coinciding with its saidindicating-point, substantially as described.

14. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of a rotary diskmounted in said casing, a needle mounted in said casing and adapted torotate independently of said disk, independent arresting devices forsaid disk and needle, folding diopters, hinged to said casing andprovided at their lower ends with bifurcated portions and at their upperends with hook portions terminating in indicatingpoints, each of saiddiopters being provided with a sight-line, coinciding with its saidindicatingpoint, one of said diopters being provided with a mirror aboveits bifurcated portion, substantially as described.

15. In a compass, the combination with the casing provided with aneedle, of a support below said casing, pivotally connected with saidcasing, folding diopters pivoted to said casing, and adapted to be swungover and downwardly into the plane of the said support and provided withindicating-points, whereby the compass-casing may be revolved upon saidsupport, the indicating-points of said diopters allowed to rest upon apaper and points taken directly therefrom in platting, substantially asdescribed.

16. In a compass, the combination witha casing, of a disk revolublymounted therein, a weight secured eccentrically to said disk, a glasscover secured to said casing, flush with the upper surface thereof and apermanent sighting-line marked upon said glass cover, substantially asdescribed.

17. In a compass, the combination with the casing, ofa center pinthreaded into the bottom thereof, a transparent cover for said casing, aneedle revolubly mounted on said center pin beneath said cover, andhaving parts adapted to engage said cover to arrest the needle when thecenter pin is turned to raise the needle, said center pin having a partfor engaging a part connected with the casing to prevent overwinding andthereby protect said center pin, substantially as described.

18. In a compass, the combination with the casing provided with a cover,of a vertically.- adjustable center pin, and a needle havinga bearingengaging said pin, said needle having lateral spring portions" eitending above the said bearing, and adapted to engage the said coverbefore the said bearing, whereby the needle can be arrested withoutinjury to the center pin or pivot-cup, substantially as described.

19. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of a rotary diskmounted within the casing and provided with a' central bearing, asupport for said bearing threaded into said casing, a center pinthreaded in said disksupport, and extending through said disk,

and a needle mounted upon said center pin and adapted to revolve freely,independently of said disk, substantially as described.

20. In a compass, the combination with the casing provided with atransparent cover, of a rotary disk mounted Within the casing below saidcover and provided with a central bearing, an adjustingscrew threadedinto the bottom of the casing adapted to support the central bearing ofsaid disk, and to raise said disk into contact with said cover to arrestsaid disk, said screw having a shoulder for engaging the casing toprevent ovcrwinding, a center pin threaded into said adjusting-screw andextending through said disk, a needle mounted on said center pin andadapted to revolve freely, said needle having parts adapted to engagethe said cover when the needle is raised by said center pin,to arrestthe needle, said center pin havinga shoulder to engage saidadjusting-screw to prevent overwinding, substantially as described.

21. In a compass, thecombination with the casing provided with atransparent top or cover, of a center pin having a threaded portion, anda shoulder to prevent overwinding and a needle having a central bearingengaging the center pin, and lateral spring portions extending therefromand curved upward above the plane of the top of said hearing,substantially as described.

22. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of an annulartorch-body, pivotally secured to the casing and provided with anupwardly-extending wick-tube, substantially as described.

23. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of an annulartorch-body detachably and pivotally secured to the bottom of said casingand provided with a vertically-extending wick-tube, substantially asdescribed.

24. In a compass, the combination with the casing provided with atransparent top or cover, of a disk pivotaily mounted at its centerwithin said casing, a needle in said casing, a revoluble ring on saidcasing, a level secured to said ring, folding diopters secured to saidcasing, and an annular torch pivotally secured to the bottom of thecasing, forming a support therefor and provided with avertically-extending wick-tube, substantially as described.

25. In a compass, the combination withthe casing provided with avertically-adjustable center pin from injury, substantially as delocenter pin, extending through the bottom of scribed.

said casing, a needle on said center pin, an In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature annular torch-body pivotally secured to the in thepresence of two witnesses. 5 bottom of the casing provided WUh a wlek-CHARLES C. RUEGER.

tube extending above the top of the casing, said torch being providedwith depending Witnesses:

feet forming a support for the wick-tube and J. A. RUEGER, casing andprotecting the outer end of the ALFRED HAHN.

